House adopts asylum law

THE HOUSE of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed a law providing for asylum to refugees.

The law was passed to bring Cyprus into line with European Union law and could lead to the release of a number of ‘illegal’ immigrants from prison.

Akel deputy George Agapiou said that the change in law had also been specifically requested by the United Nations and said that people currently being held for illegal entry could now be classified as refugees, pardoned and released.

Acting House president and Disy leader Nicos Anastassiades, however, noted that the opinion of the Attorney-general had to be obtained before such an assumption could be made.

The lack of legislation was exposed last year when the government had to deal with boatloads of migrants washing up on its shore, several of whom were classed by the UNHCR as political refugees.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.